Finding Your Roots: Dreams of Grenada

Grenada, it's been an absolute pleasure to meet you. I finally put my feet on the soil of my dad’s very humble beginnings. For the first time, I laid my eyes on the image of my grandfather and held his life and death documents in my hands. I saw Louisons reporting the evening news, read about them in history, and even encountered them on the roadside. I learned stories of my dad giving back to his community and I beamed with pride as I understood how these small gestures made an indelible impact on them. I had many laughs and experienced endless banter with the people from "Grand Town" and Gouyave.

I listened as the tires hugged these curvaceous roads with my uncle and was amazed that two cars could pass on an 8-foot road at 40mph all while we listened to the Mighty Sparrow. I toured the entire island in less than half a day and had great laughs with close friends. I ate fresh fruit from the roadside, fresh beef soup, multiple bowls of fish soup (prepared by an Oxford-educated Rasta man environmental scientist, tried strange iguana meat (gross), and drank more Rivers Royale Grenadian Rum and beer than I ever have in my life.

I bathed in the picturesque beaches while the locals laughed at the "pumpin’ iron man" put on sunblock. I randomly went to an EDM rave at the top of a Fort and danced under the night sky. I even got a little bougie and went to a Sandals resort and took a boat to the ultra-luxury Calivigny private island.

Having explored my Latino heritage previously, this trip helps me feel more grounded in the Universe. I see the glaring similarities in the cultures and I now have a more complete sense of my Carribean heritage. But most importantly who I am as it relates to my parents and their families. It makes the story of how my parents met at that party in Brooklyn all the more special.

Here's to the best 30th birthday gift I could have given myself. Here's to understanding Neville Andrés Louison in a deeper way with this experience.

Until we meet again Grand Roy, St. John's Parish, Grenada West Indies.